Specializations:

Clinics:

Academic Title

Bio Statement

Clinic FocusMy major clinical focus has been on advanced therapies for emphysema. I am the Co-Director of the Lung Volume Reduction Surgery Program and I am currently participating on the NIH COPD Clinical Research Network. The University of Minnesota has been designated the clinical coordinating center for this network.

Translational ResearchOur research program uses state-of-the-art proteomics to identify protein biomarkers and study mechanisms of disease in advanced lung diseases. These biomarkers can serve as diagnostic tools in the early detection of disease, tools to monitor disease progression or as links to understanding the mechanism of disease. Our area of study has focused on two major diseases: COPD and allograft rejection in lung transplant recipients. Currently there are no biomarkers that accurately predict who will get COPD or allograft rejection. In addition, the mechanism of disease for these conditions remains undefined. The University of Minnesota has a record of excellence in the study and research of COPD and lung transplantation.

As the home of the NIH-funded Lung Health Study and other clinical trials in COPD, we have been granted access to a wealth of patient specimens and data.

The University of Minnesota has been a leader in lung transplantation for over 20 years and is the home of the O’Brien Biobank (Dr. Wendt, Director), which holds patient specimens and information.

The Center for Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics at the University of Minnesota (Dr. Gary Nelsestuen, Director) is a leader in the field and a close collaborator on these studies.

This combination of a wealth of specimens and expertise at the University of MN has been the backbone of our research. My research currently focuses on:

Allograft rejection in lung transplantation: We have identified several potential biomarkers of chronic allograft rejection in lung transplantation using cohort analysis followed by ongoing prospective validation. Additional biomarkers are being identified using complementary proteomic tools and are being correlated to disease outcomes.

Animal models of allograft rejection: We are using animal models of allograft rejection (tracheal heterotopic transplant and bone marrow transplant) to identify mechanistic roles of the biomarkers identified using proteomic tools.

COPD: To date, there are no biomarkers that identify the 15-20% of smokers that are at risk of developing COPD. With the combination of biological samples and a wealth of clinical information from the LHS we are searching for biomarkers of COPD. Similarly, biomarkers identified will then be studied in animal models to identify potential mechanisms of disease.

The major goal of the network is to do short-term trials in patients with emphysema to improve outcomes from exacerbations of their disease. The University of Minnesota is the Data Coordinating Center.